Topic Contents

Facial X-Ray

Test Overview

A facial
X-ray is a series of pictures of the bones in the face. One type of facial X-ray (called a paranasal sinus X-ray series) looks at
the air-filled cavities (sinuses) around the nose and eyes.

X-rays
are a form of radiation, like light or radio waves, that are focused into a
beam, much like a flashlight beam. X-rays can pass through most objects,
including the human body. X-rays make a picture by striking a detector that
either exposes a film or sends the picture to a computer. Dense tissues in the
body, such as bones, block (absorb) many of the X-rays and look white on an
X-ray picture. Less dense tissues, such as muscles and organs, block fewer of
the X-rays (more of the X-rays pass through) and look like shades of gray on an
X-ray. X-rays that pass only through air, such as through the lungs, look black on the picture.

A facial X-ray helps find bone
fractures, tumors, foreign objects, infections, and
abnormal growths or changes in bone structure or size. An X-ray of the eye
(orbital cavity) may be taken if the eye has been injured. A
computed tomography (CT) scan may be needed to check
any problems seen on X-ray.

Why It Is Done

A facial or sinus X-ray may be done
to:

Find problems of the sinuses of the face and
nose, such as
sinusitis or abnormal growths (polyps or
tumors).

How To Prepare

Before the X-ray test, tell your doctor
if you are or might be pregnant. Pregnancy and the risk of radiation exposure
to your unborn baby (fetus) must be
considered. The risk of damage from the X-rays is usually very low compared
with the potential benefits of the test. If a facial X-ray is absolutely
necessary, a lead apron will be placed over your abdomen to shield your baby
from exposure to the X-rays.

Talk to your
doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks,
how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the
importance of this test, fill out the
medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

You don't need to do anything else before
you have this test.

How It Is Done

A facial X-ray is taken by a radiology
technologist. The X-ray pictures are usually read by a doctor who specializes
in interpreting X-rays (radiologist),
but other doctors may also review the films.

You will need to
remove any jewelry that may be in the way of the X-ray picture. You will also
need to remove glasses or dentures.

You may be asked to lie on an
X-ray table or sit in a chair. Several views (a series) of X-ray pictures are
needed for clear pictures of the face. Your head may need to be repositioned
for each view. You should hold your head completely still while the pictures
are being taken. A padded brace, foam pads, a headband, or sandbags may be used
to hold your head in place while the pictures are taken.

If
pictures of the orbital cavities or sinuses are needed, you will usually sit up
while they are taken. A padded brace may be used to hold your head still while
the pictures are taken.

Facial X-rays usually take about 10 to 20
minutes. You will wait about 5 minutes until the X-rays are processed in case
repeat pictures need to be taken. In some clinics and hospitals, X-ray pictures
can be shown immediately on a computer screen (digitally).

How It Feels

You will feel no discomfort from the
X-rays. The X-ray table may feel hard and the room may be cool. You may find
that the positions you need to hold are uncomfortable or painful, especially if
you have an injury.

Risks

There is always a slight risk of damage to cells
or tissue from being exposed to any radiation, including the low levels of
radiation used for this test. But the risk of damage from the X-rays is usually
very low compared with the potential benefits of the test.

For example, the radiation exposure
from a chest X-ray is about equal to the natural radiation exposure received
during a round-trip airline flight from Boston to Los Angeles (Montreal to
Vancouver) or 10 days in the Rocky Mountains (Denver, Colorado).

Results

A facial
X-ray is a series of pictures of the bones in your
face. A facial X-ray helps find bone
fractures, tumors, foreign objects, infections, and
abnormal growths or changes in bone structure or size. In an emergency, the
doctor can see the initial results of a facial X-ray in a few minutes.
Otherwise, a
radiologist usually has the official X-ray report
ready the next day.

Facial X-ray

Normal:

The bones of the face and
orbital cavity are normal in size and shape.

No foreign objects or abnormal
growths are present.

No broken bones are
present.

The sinuses are clear. No
inflammation or infection is present.

Abnormal:

Foreign objects, such as
fragments of metal or glass, may be present.

Broken bones, such as the
nasal bones or bones around the eye (orbital cavity), may be
present.

Signs of a disease that
affects the bones of the face or orbital cavity may be present.

Abnormal growths (tumors) are
present.

Signs of
sinusitis, such as fluid in the sinuses or a thick
tissues lining the sinuses, may be present.

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to
have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

If you can't remain still during the test. The
pictures may not be clear.

If you have a possible neck injury. In
this case, it may not be possible to do a complete series of facial
X-rays.

If you have a false eye (prosthetic eye) or other artificial or
metal objects around the face. These can make a shadow on the X-ray picture
that hides part of the bones.

What To Think About

A
computed tomography (CT) scan may be needed to check
any problems found on a facial X-ray. CT scans are better than X-rays for some
problems, such as severe facial trauma or sinusitis. CT scans are more
expensive than facial X-rays and may not be available in some areas. Facial and
sinus X-rays may be done if a CT scan is not available. To learn more, see the topic Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Head and Face.

Your X-ray results may be different from earlier test results
because you were tested at a different medical center or you had a different
kind of test.

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